Richmond Webb

Richmond Webb walks up to the trash can near his locker, holding a pair of his enormous high-top cleats. He stops, then throws the shoes in.We take note, because, quite frankly, this could be the closest Webb gets to outrageousness on this particular day.Not that the Dolphins' left offensive tackle is boring. It's just that, in a locker room sprinkled with pranksters and colorful characters, Webb is Mr. Ordinary. Down-to-earth, level-headed, blue-collar Richmond.And that's just the way the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder likes it.''I'm just that type of guy,'' Webb said.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter promised he'd send all the critics who felt he'd lost a step a postcard from Hawaii during his Pro Bowl trip. "Everybody needs haters," said Porter, whose 17 1/2 sacks -- which ranked second in the NFL -- earned the 31-year-old his fourth Pro Bowl berth, capping a successful rebound from a disappointing 2007 season. "I've definitely been on a lot of great, great defenses. But I've never been in a situation where the defense is built around the [weakside]

With a two-tone fluorescent green paint job, gaudy wheel wells, sideboards and tinted windows, Richmond Webb's truck looks like something from a ZZ Top video.Webb takes humorous pride in the car. His lighthearted smile flashes and he says, ''So, you like it, huh?'' as acquaintances make lightly sarcastic remarks.Webb, who seems to be on the cutting edge of goofy at times, doesn't say much else.For all the gaudy cars and silly trappings, the best garage band and best left offensive tackle in America are pretty quiet folk.

With cut-down day to a 75-player roster coming Tuesday, Miami Dolphins Coach Nick Saban indicated that he'd like to keep multifaceted rookie Marcus Vick in the organization and continue his development at quarterback. Vick, who has received spot duty at receiver and as backup kick returner to Wes Welker in the first three exhibition games, played quarterback for Virginia Tech in 2003 and 2005 before getting kicked off the team for on- and off-field transgressions. "It was our purpose and goal when we brought him here to continue to try to develop him as a quarterback,'' Saban said after Sunday's practice.

It didn't take Richmond Webb long to forget the 17-16 loss to the New York Jets and the trouble he had with rookie defensive end Hugh Douglas.The Dolphins' All-Pro left tackle says he knows that Mr. Smith comes to town Sunday and commands every bit of attention and respect Webb can muster. Bruce Smith, Buffalo's All-Pro defensive end, has long been at the top of Webb's list of formidable opponents.Smith brings plenty of help. During the off-season, the Bills signed Jim Jeffcoat from the Dallas Cowboys and Bryce Paup from the Green Bay Packers to improve an already solid pass rush led by Smith.

The Miami Dolphins open camp today and are expected to complete a deal that will make tackle Richmond Webb the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL.Webb probably will sign a 3-year extension worth approximately $8.1 million, or $2.7 million per year.Webb's agent, Steve Zucker, will fly to South Florida today. Zucker said Sunday from Chicago that there are some details still to be worked out.''Nothing is signed, so I hesitate to say that it's done,'' Zucker said.The deal will keep Webb, who has reached the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons, with the Dolphins through 1997.

Whenever Tim Robbie, president of the Miami Dolphins, thinks about Richmond Webb, he cannot help but look northwest and voice a silent ''thank you'' to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Robbie's feeling of gratitude dates back to NFL draft day, 1990. The Dolphins wanted Webb and feared the Bucs would foil their plans.The Bucs did not want Webb (even though they drafted another offensive tackle, Charles McRae, in the first round one year later). Everyone knew Tampa Bay was going to take one of two linebackers - Keith McCants or Junior Seau.

DON MOSSI: 71, former baseball player, born in St. Helena, Calif. JAMES ANDREW: 56, former baseball player, born Lost Nation, Iowa CHRIS FORD: 51, basketball coach and former player, born in Atlantic City, N.J. BEN CRENSHAW: 48, golfer, born in Austin, Texas. FREDDIE SOLOMON: 47, former football player, born in Sumter, S.C. DARRYL DAWKINS: 43, former basketball player, born in Orlando. TRACY CAULKINS: 37, former swimmer, born Winona, Minn. RICHMOND WEBB: 33, football player, born in Dallas.

The Miami Dolphins gained an offensive lineman Thursday when veteran guard Harry Galbreath reported on schedule but immediately lost one when reserve center Stacy Searels dislocated the big toe on his right foot.None of Miami's 12 unsigned players reported, leaving the in-camp roster at 78. Five of the unsigned are offensive linemen, including the first two draft picks - Richmond Webb and Keith Sims.Because of injuries and holdouts, line coach John Sandusky has seven healthy players at his command.

DAVIE -- For two seasons, the Miami Dolphins enjoyed the luxury of having proven veteran backup offensive linemen who had earned the trust of the coaching staff. Not this year. The season-ending knee injury suffered Friday by Brent Smith did more than cost the Dolphins their starting left tackle. It forced the elevation of Marcus Spriggs to the first-team unit, leaving no established backup at either tackle position. The situation also is shaky at second-string guard and center, where Heath Irwin -- a free-agent disappointment in 2000 -- is the only backup to have started an NFL game.

PRACTICE REPORT: Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler took most of the snaps in practice Friday and was upgraded to probable on the injury list. That means there's a 75 percent chance he'll play Sunday against Indianapolis. Fiedler had earlier been listed as doubtful, indicating a 25 percent chance he would play. He tore the rotator cuff in his left (non-throwing) shoulder last week against Tampa Bay. Coach Dave Wannstedt said he'll decide Sunday whether to start Fiedler or Damon Huard.

PRACTICE REPORT: Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler practiced with no restrictions Thursday despite his shoulder injury, increasing the likelihood he'll start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Fiedler tore the rotator cuff in his left (non-throwing) shoulder last week against Tampa Bay. He took most of the snaps in practice, Coach Dave Wannstedt said. "It was very encouraging today with how he felt, No. 1, and how he practiced, No. 2," Wannstedt said. "We'll see how he feels [today]

DAVIE -- Dolphins cornerback Ben Kelly is most likely out for the season due to a torn lateral collateral ligament in his left knee. Kelly, a third-round pick from Colorado this year, was the Dolphins' No. 1 punt returner. He was injured in Sunday's 10-3 victory over New England while returning a punt in the first quarter. But as serious as that situation is, the Dolphins might be as concerned with middle linebacker Zach Thomas' sprained right ankle, an injury that threatens to keep him out of this week's game at Cincinnati.

PRACTICE REPORT: Cornerback Terrance Shaw said he wasn't surprised he didn't play much against Baltimore last week. Shaw also said he understands the reason -- the Miami Dolphins' secondary, which is ranked fourth against the pass in the AFC and eighth against the pass in the NFL, is playing extraordinarily well. "You don't want to break up that chemistry," Shaw said. Shaw was a second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1995, the season after they lost Super Bowl XXIX to San Francisco 49-26.

After spending 16 games piling up tackles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson continues to pile up postseason honors. Nickerson, named an NFC starter for his first Pro Bowl a week ago, was named to The Associated Press 1993 All-Pro Team announced Monday.Nickerson shattered the Bucs' single-season record for tackles, finishing with 211, 37 more than any defender in Bucs' history. He finished with double-digit tackles in 15 of Tampa Bay's games and was the emotional leader on a defense that improved dramatically as the season progressed.

At Joe Robbie Stadium, 1 p.m.Broadcast: TV - NBC, WESH-Ch. 2 in Orlando; Radio - WWNZ-AM (740) in Orlando, WOKV-AM (600), WWBF-AM (1130), WNDB-AM (1150), WSBB-AM (1230), WTMC-AM (1290), WWHL-AM (1350).week: Indianapolis lost to New England, 16-7; Miami lost to Buffalo, 35-31.Miami has the ball: The Dolphins have a right to feel encouraged about their offense. Besides a good showing last week, the attack should have Richmond Webb back at left tackle, essentially restoring a normal look to the line.

PRACTICE REPORT: They're not exactly shoving the ball down people's throats, but the Dolphins have shown signs they can run the ball effectively. Part of the effectiveness of the running game stems from having a running back such as veteran Lamar Smith. He's one of reasons the Dolphins are 10th in the NFL at 112 yards per game. But the Dolphins' blocking scheme under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey also helps. A year ago the Dolphins did more zone blocking -- which means blocking an area more than a person -- as opposed to man blocking, which refers to blocking a specific person.